Multiple position reclining chair assembly

ABSTRACT

Two embodiments of a multi-position reclining chair assembly wherein both embodiments include a metal plate like support member, a metal plate-like seat member, a leg rest and attendant linkage, whereby the seat member moves forwardly relative to the support member in moving to a reclining position as the leg rest is extended so that no room is required behind the chair to accommodate reclining movement of the seat back. In one embodiment a manually graspable handle and associated linkage is utilized to move the assembly between an upright position and a fully reclined position, whereas in the other embodiment the assembly is moved between the upright and fully reclined positions by applying force to the seat member.

United States Patent [191 Crum et al.

[ 511 July 3,1973

[75] Inventors: McDonald Crum; Edward L.

Hampton, both of Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: Lear Siegler, Incorporated, Detroit,

Mich.

221 Filed: Dec. 16, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 208,677

Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Gerald E. McGlynn, Jr.

[ ABSTRACT Two embodiments of a multi-position reclining chair assemblywherein both embodiments include a metal plate like support member, ametal plate-like seat member, a leg rest and attendant linkage, wherebythe seat member moves forwardly reiative to the support member in movingto a reclining position as the leg rest is extended so that no room isrequired behind the chair to accommodate reclining movement of the seatback. In one embodiment a manually graspable handle and associatedlinkage is utilized to move the assembly between an upright position anda fully reclined position, whereas in the other embodiment the assemblyis moved between the upright and fully reclined positions by applyingforce to the seat member.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PMENIEBJIIL 3 I913 1M VENTORS TTORN SMULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR ASSEMBLY This invention relates to amultiple position reclining chair assembly. More specifically, thisinvention relates to a reclining chair assembly of the type including anextensible leg rest associated with a seat which is moved between anupright position and a fully reclined position. Typical of suchassemblies known to the prior art are those which include a pair ofmechanisms which are secured to opposite sides of a wooden furniturestructure or chair frame. Since two mechanisms are paired only one willbe described throughout this specification. The prior art assembliesnormally include a metal support member which is adapted to be attachedto the wooden frame of a chair. They also normally include a seat memberwhich is secured to a wooden seat frame for moving the wooden seat framerelative to the wooden support frame, such movement being accomplishedby linkages interconnecting the support memher and the seat member. Aleg rest and associated linkages are also connected to the assemblyfor'extending during at least some portion of the reclining movement.

The problem with the prior art assemblies is that during recliningmovement theseat member moves rearwardly relative to the support member.Normally the front end of the seat member moves rearwardly and upwardly,while the rear portion moves rearwardly and downwardly. It will beappreciated that during such movement the seat back moves slightlydownwardly but more generally rearwardly. In other words, the top of theseat back moves in an arc rearwardly and downwardly, and this movementis substantial, thus requiring that there be substantial space behindthe prior art reclining chairs to allow for reclining movement.Therefore, the areas in which such prior art reclining chairs areutilized is determined by the space available and many space conditionsdo not allow the use of such reclining chairs. For example, suchreclining chairs are rarely found in small hotel or motel rooms.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide anew and improved multiple position reclining chair assembly which doesnot require substantial space behind the chair to allow the chair to bemoved to the fully reclined position.

ln correlation with the foregoing object and feature, it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide such a reclining chairassembly which includes support means, seat means, a leg rest, leg restmounting linkage mounting the leg rest for movement between a collapsedstored position and an extended leg supporting position, and linkagemeans operatively interconnecting the support means and the seat meansand the leg rest mounting linkage for moving the seat means from anupright position forwardly relative to the support means to a fullyreclined position, while at the same time actuating the mounting linkageto move the leg rest to the extended leg supporting position whereby thebottom of the seat back is moved forwardly and downwardly, thuseliminating the need for substantial space behind the chair.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features, it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide such a reclining chairassembly, wherein the linkage means includes first and second links witheach link pivotally connected to the support means and to the seat meansrespectively, with both links being moved forwardly in an are abouttheir pivotal connections to the support means during movement from theupright to the fully reclined position.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and fea-. tures, it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide such a reclining chairassembly wherein the mounting linkage includes a plurality of pivotallyinterconnected and crossed links with one of the linksbeing a controllink pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to another of thecrossed links and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the seatmeans and wherein the linkage means includes a connecting link pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the control link and pivotally connectedto the support means for extending the leg rest to the leg supportingposition as the seat means moves forwardly relative to the support meansduring the movement to the fully reclined posi-. tion.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away perspective view showing a firstembodiment of the present invention incorporated into a furniturestructure comprising a wooden chair frame with the assembly in the fullyreclined position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the instantinvention and showing the assembly in the upright position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the assemblyin an intermediate position between the upright position and the fullyreclined position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 but showing theassembly in the fully reclined position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the instantinvention shown in the upright seat forming position;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the assemblyin an intermediate position between the upright position and thefullyreclined position; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view partially broken away and showing thesecond embodiment in the fully reclined position. i

Referring now to the drawings when like numbers indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, there is a firstembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and a second embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 through 7. These embodiments will be described simultaneouslywith the second embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 7 being indicated withnumerals corresponding to those utilized to describe the firstembodiment but increased by on corresponding parts.

A wooden frame for apiece of furniture comprising a chair is shown inFIG. 1. A main portion of the frame is generally indicated at 10 and isconstructed so that it rests upon the floor or the like and is generallymade of wood. There is also a wooden framedefining a seat, which isgenerally indicated at 12, and a seat back, which is generally indicatedat 14, also made of wood. There is also a leg restgenerally indicated at16.

A pair of multiple-position reclining chair assemblies or mechanisms aregenerally indicated at 20, and are disposed on opposite sides of thewooden frame for allowing the seat 12 and the seat back 14 to movebetween an upright seat forming position to a fully reclined position asillustrated, while at the same time moving the leg rest 16 to the legsupporting position illustrated. The second embodiment is generallyindicated at 120 in FIGS. through 7.

Each embodiment includes a support means defined by the metal plate-likemembers 22 and 122. Each embodiment also includes a seat means definedby the metal plate-like members 24 and 124. As shown in FIG. 1, thesupport members 22 are secured to the frame and seat member 24 issecured to the seat frame 12. Normally the members 22, 24, 122 and 124have holes therein so that they may be bolted or otherwise suitablyfastened to the wood members of the seat frame.

Both embodiments also include leg rest members 26 and 126. The leg restmembers 26 and 126 are secured to and support the wooden leg rest suchas that generally indicated at 16 in FIG. 1. Both embodiments alsoinclude leg rest mounting linkage 28 and 128 mounting the leg restmembers 26 and 126 for movement between the collapsed stored position,as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and an extended leg supporting position, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

The embodiments include linkage means generally shown at 30 and 130. Thelinkage means 30 operatively interconnects the support member 22 andseat member 24 and the leg rest mounting linkage 28 for moving the seatmember 24 from an upright position as shown in FIG. 2 forwardly relativeto the support member 22 through an intermediate position as shown inFIG. 3 to a fully reclined position as shown in FIG. 4 while at the sametime actuating the mounting linkage 28 to move the leg rest member 26 tothe extended leg supporting position shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, thelinkage means 130 of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 7 interconnects thesupport member 122 and the seat member 124 and the leg rest mountinglinkage 128 for moving the seat member 124 from an upright positionshown in FIG. 5 forwardly relative to the support member 122 through anintermediate position shown in FIG. 6 to a fully reclined position shownin FIG. 7 while at the same time actuating the mounting linkage 128 tomove the leg rest member 126 to the extended leg supporting positionshown in FIG. 7.

The linkage means 30 includes first and second links 32 and 34 with thefirst link 32 being disposed forwardly of the assembly and the secondlink 34 being disposed rearwardly of the assembly. Each of the first andsecond links 32 and 34 are pivotally connected to the support member 22and to the seat member 24 respectively. In a similar fashion, butalthough of different configuration, the linkage means 130 of the secondembodiment includes a downwardly extending projection to which the lowerend of the first link 132 is pivotally connected. Thus, the distancebetween the pivotal connections of the first link 132 of the secondembodiment to the seat and support members respectively is greater thanthe distance between the pivotal connections of the second link 132 tothe seat and support members respectively.

Both embodiments include stop means comprising the pins 36 and 136 forlimiting forward movement of the seat members 24 and 124 relative to thesupport members 22 and 122, the pins 36 and 136 extend from the supportmembers 22 and 122, respectively, to engage the second links 34 and 134in the fully reclined position.

The mounting linkage 28 includes a plurality of pivotally interconnectedand crossed links 38, 40, 42 and 44 to define a scissor-type linkage.One of the links 44 is a control link pivotally connected at its lowerend to another 40 of the cross links and pivotally connectedintermediate its ends at 46 to the seat member 24 through a bracket 48.

The linkage means 30 also includes a connecting link 50 which ispivotally connected to the upper end of the control link 44 at one endand pivotally connected to the support member 22 at the other end asindicated at 52 for extending the leg rest member 26 to the legsupporting position shown in FIG. 4 as the seat member 24 movesforwardly relative to the support member 22. In other words, the supportmember 22 is secured to an immovable furniture structure so that thepivot 52 of the connecting link 50 remains stationary, so that as theseat member 24 is moved forwardly the connecting link 50 forces thecontrol link 44 to pivot about its pivotal connection 46 to the seatmember 24 as the pivotal connection 46 moves forwardly, therebyeffecting extension of the mounting linkage 28.

In a similar fashion, the mounting linkage 128 of the second embodimentincludes a plurality of pivotally interconnected and crossed links 138,140, 142 and 144, with one of the links 144 being a control linkpivotally connected adjacent its lower end to another of the cross linksand pivotally connected intermediate its ends at 146 to the seat member124 through a depending bracket 148. Also the linkage means 130 includesa connecting link pivotally connected to the upper end of the controllink 144 and pivotally connected to the support member 122 for extendingthe leg rest member 126 to the leg supporting position shown in FIG. 7as the seat member 124 moves forwardly relative to the support member122. Again, as the pivot point 146 moves forwardly as the assembly movesfrom the upright position to the fully reclined position the connectinglink 150 forces the control link 144 to pivot about the pivot point 146to extend the mounting linkage 128. The embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 6is moved between the upright and fully reclined positions by anindividual sitting in a chair assembly into which this embodiment isincorporated and grasping the arms of the assembly so that the buttocksapply the force to move the seat member 124 between .the uprightposition of FIG. 5 and the fully reclined position of FIG. 7.

In contra-distinction, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 includes anactuation means for moving the assembly between the upright and fullyreclined positions. More specifically, the second link 34 extendsdownwardly from its pivotal connection at 54 to the support member 22and an actuation means generally shown at 56 is operatively connected tothe lower end of the second link 34. The actuation means 56 includes anarm 58 pivotally connected to the support member 22 and a push-pull link60 interconnecting the arm 58 and the bottom of the second link 34. Theactuation means 56 also includes a handle 62 connected to the arm 58through a shaft 64 whereby rotation of the handle 62 pivots the arm 58which in turn rotates the second link 34 through the push-pull link 60,thereby moving the assembly between the upright position shown in FIG. 2and the reclined position shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. I, ahandle 62 is disposed on only one side of a chair and a shaft 64interconnects the two assemblies 20. To move the assembly of FIGS. 1through 4 from the upright position shown in FIG. 2, the handle 62 isgrasped and rotated in a clockwise direction. The handle 62 may berotated clockwise until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 wherethe as sembly is in the fully reclined position. To move the assemblyfrom the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 4, the handle 62 isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction back to the position shown inFIG. 2.

As an alternative embodiment the control link 44 could be pivotallyconnected to and supported by the first link 32 instead of the seatmember 24 at pivot 46. The same is true of control link 144 with respectto first link 132.

Also, it will be appreciated that although the assembly is referred toas a chair assembly, such includes and describes both single andmultiple seat furniture structures.

As it will be appreciated from the description of both embodiments, theseat members 24 and 124 move forwardly in a fashion that their rear endsmove forwardly and downwardly while the front ends move forwardly andupwardly. Because the rear ends of the seat mem bers 24 and 124 moveforwardly, the top of the seat back connected thereto will not move in alarge arc rearwardly as in the prior art assemblies and will thereforenot require a large amount of space behind a piece of furniture toaccommodate the reclining movement.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that with the scope of the appended claims, the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A multiple position reclining chair assembly comprising: supportmeans, seat means, a leg rest member, leg rest mounting linkage mountingsaid leg rest member for movement between a collapsed stored positionand an extended leg supporting position and, linkage means operativelyinterconnecting said support means and said seat means and said leg restmounting linkage for moving said seat means from an upright positionforwardly relative to said support means to a fully reclined positionwhile at the same time actuating said mounting linkage to move said legrest member to said extended leg supporting position, said linkage meansincluding first and second links with each link pivotally connected tosaid support means and said seat means respectively, said mountinglinkage including a plurality of pivotally interconnected and crossedlinks with one of said links being a control link pivotally connectedadjacent its lower end to another of said crossed links and pivotallyconnected intermediate its ends to one of said first link and said seatmeans and said linkage means including a connecting link pivotallyconnected to the upper end of said control link and pivotally connectedto said support means for extending said leg rest member to said legsupporting position as said seat means moves forwardly relative to saidsupport means.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including actuation means formoving said assembly between said up- I right and fully reclinedpositions.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second link extendsdownwardly as well as upwardly from its pivotal connection to saidsupport means, and saidactuation means is connected to said second linkbelow its pivotal connection to said support means.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuation meansincludes an arm pivotally connected to said support means and apush-pull link pivotally interconnecting said arm and said second link.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuation meansincludes a handle connected to said arm for pivoting said arm to movesaid assembly between said upright and reclined positions.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuation meansincludes a shaft interconnecting said handle and said arm.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said support meanscomprises a metal plate-like member adapted for attachment to furniturestructure and said seat means comprises a metal plate-like memberadapted for attachment to a furniture seat.

8. A multiple position reclining chair assembly comprising: supportmeans, seat means, a leg rest member, leg rest mounting linkage mountingsaid leg rest member for movement between a collapsed stored positionand an extended leg supporting position and, linkage means operativelyinterconnecting said support means and said seat means and said leg restmounting linkage for moving said seat means from an upright positionforwardly relative to said support means to a fully reclined positionwhile at the same time actuating said mounting linkage to move said legrest member to said extended leg supporting position, said mountinglinkage including a plurality of pivotally interconnected and crossedlinks with one of said links being a control link pivotally connectedadjacent its lower end to another of said crossed links and pivotallysupported intermediate its ends and said linkage means including aconnecting link pivotally connected to the upper end of said controllink above the intermediate pivotal support thereof and pivotallyconnected to said support means for rotating said control link like alever to extend said leg rest member to said leg supporting position assaid seat means moves forwardly relative to said support means.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said linkage meansincludes first and second links with each link pivotally connected tosaid support means and said seat means respectively.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first link isdisposed adjacent the front of said assembly and said second link isdisposed adjacent the rear of said assembly.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control link ispivotally connected to one of said first link and said seat means.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first link isgenerally L-shaped.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the distance betweenthe pivotal connections of said first link to said seat and supportmeans is greater than the distance between the pivotal connections ofsaid sec- 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said nd linkto said seat and support means.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 including p means for limitingforward movement of Said seat gages said second link in said fullyreclined positions.

means relative to said support means.

stop means extends from said support means and en-

1. A multiple position reclining chair assembly comprising: supportmeans, seat means, a leg rest member, leg rest mounting linkage mountingsaid leg rest member for movement between a collapsed stored positionand an extended leg supporting position and, linkage means operativelyinterconnecting said support means and said seat means and said leg restmounting linkage for moving said seat means from an upright positionforwardly relative to said support means to a fully reclined positionwhile at the same time actuating said mounting linkage to move said legrest member to said extended leg supporting position, said linkage meansincluding first and second links with each link pivotally connected tosaid support means and said seat means respectively, said mountinglinkage including a plurality of pivotally interconnected and crossedlinks with one of said links being a control link pivotally connectedadjacent its lower end to another of said crossed links and pivotallyconnected intermediate its ends to one of said first link and said seatmeans and said linkage means including a connecting link pivotallyconnected to the upper end of said control link and pivotally connectedto said support means for extending said leg rest member to said legsupporting position as said seat means moves forwardly relative to saidsupport means.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 includingactuation means for moving said assembly between said upright and fullyreclined positions.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidsecond link extends downwardly as well as upwardly from its pivotalconnection to said support means, and said actuation means is connectedto said second link below its pivotal connection to said support means.4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuation meansincludes an arm pivotally connected to said support means and apush-pull link pivotally interconnecting said arm and said second link.5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuation meansincludes a handle connected to said arm for pivoting said arm to movesaid assembly between said upright and reclined positions.
 6. Anassembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuation means includes ashaft interconnecting said handle and said arm.
 7. An assembly as setforth in claim 6 wherein said support means comprises a metal plate-likemember adapted for attachment to furniture structure and said seat meanscomprises a metal plate-like member adapted for attachment to afurniture seat.
 8. A multiple position reclining chair assemblycomprising: support means, seat means, a leg rest member, leg restmounting linkage mounting said leg rest member for movement between acollapsed stored position and an extended leg supporting position and,linkage means operatively interconnecting said support means and saidseat means and said leg rest mounting linkage for moving said seat meansfrom an upright position forwardly relative to said support means to afully reclined position while at the same time actuating said mountinglinkage to move said leg rest member to said extended leg supportingposition, said mounting linkage including a plurality of pivotallyinterconnected and crossed links with one of said links being a controllink pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to another of saidcrossed links and pivotally supported intermediate its ends and saidlinkage means including a connecting link pivotally connected to theupper end of said control link above the intermediate pivotal supportthereof and pivotally connected to said support means for rotating saidcontrol link like a lever to extend said leg rest member to said legsupporting position as said seat means moves forwardly relative to saidsupport means.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein saidlinkage means includes first and second links with each link pivotallyconnected to said support means and said seat means respectively.
 10. Anassembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first link is disposedadjacent the front of said assembly and said second link is disposedadjacent the rear of said assembly.
 11. An assembly as set forth inclaim 10 wherein said control link is pivotally connected to one of saidfirst link and said seat means.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11wherein said first link is generally L-shaped.
 13. An assembly as setforth in claim 10 wherein the distance between the pivotal connectionsof said first link to said seat and support means is greater than thedistance between the pivotal connections of said second link to saidseat and support means.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 10including stop means for limiting forward movement of said seat meansrelative to said support means.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14wherein said stop means extends from said support means and engages saidsecond link in said fully reclined positions.